Aristotle, Aristotelianism and Ancient Medicine

Philip van der Eijk's magisterial book argues that Aristotle made important and innovative contributions to ongoing debates between philosophers and doctors about health and disease. He furthermore shows that Aristotle's philosophy itself, and its elaboration by his followers, was influenced by its engagement with medical theory and practice.

Aristotle had a decisive impact on the development of ancient medicine. He and his followers conducted a dialogue about life and living beings, body and soul, and health and disease with doctors from the Classical period down to late antiquity: interlocutors who included key figures like Galen and the Hippocratic commentator Stephanus of Alexandria. Philip van der Eijk's magisterial and attractively written book describes and analyses this dialogue and argues that Aristotle strategically positioned himself within these discussions while making important and innovative contributions to them. The author further uncovers unpublished evidence showing how Aristotle's philosophy itself – and also the way it was elaborated by its later advocates and exegetes – was influenced by its close engagement with medical theory and practice. This important and much-anticipated book will transform both the study of Aristotle and his followers and that of Greek and Roman medicine.